ATLANTA – U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) and House Majority Leader Jon Burns (R-Newington) today announced that East Georgia Healthcare Center (EGHC) has secured property in Sylvania to build a new primary care clinic. EGHC, a Federally Qualified Health Center, plans to open this clinic by February 2020.
“More than ever before, community health centers in Georgia are being relied upon for high-quality, affordable care,” said Senator Perdue. “Rural health providers, like East Georgia Healthcare Center, are on the front lines of mental health, care for women and children, and the opioid crisis that continues to devastate far too many families in Georgia and across America. East Georgia Healthcare Center’s expansion is fantastic news for Screven County, and I want to personally thank Leader Burns for spearheading a state and federal partnership to make it happen. As we continue to discuss ways to rescue our broken health care system, rural health centers will undoubtedly play a key role in these solutions.”
“Since being elected to the House of Representatives, one of my top priorities has been protecting and expanding access to quality health care across rural Georgia,” said Leader Burns. “We have made real progress in creating a healthier, more vibrant rural Georgia, and I am proud to announce that East Georgia Healthcare Center, Inc. (EGHC) is expanding to Screven County with a new full-time primary care clinic by February, 2020. This investment was made possible by both federal funding as well as the inclusion of $250,000 in state funds within the FY 2020 budget. Investments such as these ensure that, no matter their zip code, more Georgians will have access to the physicians and treatments to help them live longer, stronger lives.”
The new East Georgia Healthcare Center in Sylvania will include six exam rooms, a counseling room, lab and offices. The office will be staffed with at least one medical provider when opened and will add an additional provider once the demand deems necessary, as well as an office coordinator, medical assistants, customer service representatives, and other administrative personnel.
“EGHC is a leader in healthcare in Georgia and brings a top-notch patient experience and outcome centered approach to our communities,” added State Representative Butch Parrish (R-Swainsboro).
East Georgia Healthcare Center currently offers many types of primary healthcare including: family medicine, pediatric medicine, mental and behavioral counseling, chiropractic and wellness, dental, pharmacy, chronic condition case management, women’s health, patient education, diabetes education, insurance navigation and school based healthcare. In 2018, EGHC treated more than 20,000 individual patients and completed approximately 50,000 visits.
“Since 1994 EGHC’s mission of providing the highest quality care to each and every patient in our service area, no matter their background, ethnicity, insurance, or ability to pay has been the center piece of our company,” said Jennie Wren Denmark, CEO of EGHC. “With the support of all our legislators in Washington and Atlanta, our state primary care association, and especially EGHC’s board of directors and staff we are proud to expand our offering of a high quality healthcare home to areas in desperate need.”
Representative Jon Burns represents the citizens of District 159, which includes Screven County and portions of Bulloch and Effingham counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2006 and currently serves as House Majority Leader. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Economic Development & Tourism, Ethics, Game, Fish & Parks, Rules and Transportation committees.
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